Warp-line cleat.



J. LUCIA.

WARP LINE CLEAT,

APPLICATION FILED Aura.5,1914.

1, 14 1,807. Patented J une 1, 1915.

' iL i4 [9 2? i9 (55$.4- Z2 4 awe wm 44 Q/OeLLUJM q/vbtnmooo ,8 MM 3% 7 CL. CL WW THE NORIRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D C

JOEL LUCIA, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

WARP-LINE CLEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed August 5, 1914. Serial No. 855,254.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL LUCIA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVarp-Line Cleats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to warp line cleats of the general character employed for connecting to a vessel the end of a warp line whereby the vessel is fastened to a dock or wharf, the primary object of the invention being to provide a cleat which, in the event of the vessel or dock catching fire, may be released to free the line so that the vessel may be cast loose to move out into the stream and away from the dock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a positive and reliable type of cleat which will normally hold the line in a secure manner, but may be released from any desired part of the vessel to free the line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cleat which is mounted to swing within a determined are upon the vessel so as to adjust itself for a proper holding action according to the angular disposition of the line with relation to the vessel.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a deck of a vessel showing the cleat employed for holding a Warp line. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device, the deck appearing in section, showing the cleat re leased to free the line. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the cleat and its support, the cleat appearing in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the cleat showing the cleat member released.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the deck of a vessel and 2 the improved cleat, which latter comprises a base plate 3 and a cleat proper 4:.

The base plate 3 is formed with longitudinal flanges 5 producing a channel or guideway 6 to receive the bottom or body portion 7 of the cleat proper and a sliding latch member 8. The said bottom or body portion of the cleat 4 is pivoted at its outer end to the base plate 3 to swing in a vertical plane, by means of pintles 9 engaging bearing openings 10 inthe rear ends of the flanges 5. The opposite or forward end of the base or bottom of the cleat proper is formed with a beveled or reduced surface 11 engaged by the beveled or reduced inner end 12 of the latch member 8, whereby when the beveled end of the latch member overhangs the beveled end of the cleat, the latter will be locked in normal holding position.

The upper face of the latch member 8 is formed with a transverse groove 13 receiving a cross bar 14 and fixed to and extending between the forward ends of the flanges 5, said cross bar thus serving to hold the latch in position and guide it in its movements, the shoulders or walls of the groove also serving as a stop to limit the inward and outward movements of the latch. The forward end of the latch is formed with a bifurcated lug or projection receiving one end of a link 16 which is pivoted thereto, as at 17 and pivotally connected at its opposite end to a controlling lever 18 pivotally mounted, as at 19 on an arm or extension 20 from the forward end of the base plate 3, the construction being such that by shifting said lever inwardly and outwardly the sliding latch may be moved into and out of cleat holding position. Connected with the link, or the lever, or some fixed part of the cleat or vessel is one end of a cord, chain or other like flexible connection 21, the other end of which is attached to a locking pin 22 adapted to engage openings 23 and 2 1 in the latch and cross bar to lock the latch in holding position, as will be readily understood.

A pivoted dog 25 is carried by the lever and is adapted for engagement at its free end with the teeth of a toothed locking bar 26, by which the lever may be locked in a desired position.

In practice, one end of the warp line 27, which is suitably fastened at its opposite end to the wharf or deck, is passed around the cleat l in the usual way to secure the vessel alongside the dock or to hold it in proper position with relation thereto, and it is evident that by pulling upon the connection 21 to retract the latch and releasing the dog 25 and swinging the lever 18 out-' wardly, the sliding latch may be retracted, so that through the pull of the warp line the cleat 4 will be tilted upwardly from the holding position shown in Fig. 1 to the re leasing position shown in Fig. 2, allowing the line to pull loose and free the vessel;

The vessel may thus be quickly disconnected from the warp or holding line so that it will move or may be hauled outwardly into the stream away from the dock within a minimum period of time. Thus, in the event of tire breaking out on the dock the vessel may be released and moved away from the dock to confine the flames to one or the other. It is to be understood that the cleat construction shown may be duplicated so that two lines may be simultaneously held and released, or single cleat structures of the character illustrated may be provided at different points upon the vessel for holding different lines.

As shown, the cleat is preferably mounted upon a swinging support consisting of a bracket arm 28 pivoted at one end upon a pin or bolt 29 extending upwardly through the deck of the vessel, to the upper end of which pin or bolt is fastened a retaining collar or nut 30 to hold the bracket arm from displacement. The bracket arm is mounted upon the bolt to swing in a direction transversely of the deck 1 and is formed at its free end with a or reduced portion 31 under a retaining flange or segmental guide strip 32 fixed to the deck, whereby the said free end of the bracket arm will be guided to move in a determined path and will be held from upward displacement. desired suitable stop pins 33 may be provided on opposite sides of the bracket arm upon the deck or guide strip to limit the swinging movements of the bracket arm. The base plate 3 of the cleat is fixed to the bracket arm so that the projecting end of the head of the cleat member will extend toward the pivot pin or bolt and will tilt in a direction away from the latter on its releasing motion. It will be evident from the foregoing construction that the bracket arm will allow the cleat to swing to accommodate itself to changes in the position of the line due to the swinging of the vessel or other causes, so that the cleat will always be disposed in the plane of the line, thus preventing lateral strain thereon or any strain liable to pull the cleat loose or to cause slippage of the line therefrom. The pivotal mounting also allows the cleat to be adjusted to different positions according to the arrangement of the line at different angles to the keel line ofthe vessel.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, the construction and mode of use of my improved line cleat will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention rovides a device of this character which is not only simple of construction and reliable and efficient in operation to hold the line fast, but which at the same time admits of the easy, convenient and rapid release of the line so that the vessel may be cast loose from the dock under the conditions mentioned. It will of course be understood that the lever or controlling device may belocated at any suitable point upon the vessel, as may be deemed desirable or as circumstances may require.

I claim .1. In a warp line cleat, the combination of a bracket, guide members upon the bracket,

a cleat hinged or pivoted to said guide members, a latch slidably engaging the guide members and movable into and out of engagement with the base of the cleat, a looking device for holding the latch in engaging position, a pivoted lever, a link connecting said lever with the sliding latch, a flexible connection between said lever and the locking device, a toothed detent,-and a dog pivoted to the lever and engaging said detent.

2. In a warp line cleat, a retaining flange, a support having an end movable into and out of engagement with said flange and having its opposite end pivoted, and a cleat mounted upon said support.

In testimony whereof I aflirr my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOEL LUCIA. lVitnesses:

F. P. DRINKER, C. B. RUssnLL.

Goplea or this patent may be obtained for 'five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

